Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-05-13
The Cars Prison.

"Qujs custodiet ipsos custodes ?" is the
reflection which springs to ones mind on
hearing the rumors as to attempts on the
Cars life in his rural retreat. at Gatschina.
The country house inhabited by the Auto
crat OF All the Russias is nothing more nor
less than fortress surrounded by moats,
with strong garrison, and situated in the
midst OF an immense camp, in which count.
less attachments of soldiers, horse, foot, ar.
tillery, and even engineers, are quartered.
Yet even here the life of the sovereign is ex.
posed to various perils, chief among which
is the notorious disa1fection of portions of
his vast army The time was when the
Gar could at least reckon On the fidelity Of
his troops, and on the blind and unreason-
ing devotion of the liberated serfs. Now
ali ia changed 1t is acknowledged that the
revolutionary movement has spread with
appalling and significant rapidity. even TO
classes which had always been regarded as
trustworthy
Meanwhile, however, alexander III. has
no alternative but TO make the best of the
situation. Picked soldiers guard him day
and night at Gatschina, and the strlctest dis.
cipine prevails in the fortress castle. A
writer who short time ago had the rare
privilege OF an introduction to the pres ence
Of the Czarina, gives graphic account of
his visit, aud of the precautions taken to
prevent any mishap. Travelling from st.
Petersburg to Gatschina in company with
Gen. Ignatien and Gen. Baumgerten, one of
the Emperor's aides.de.camp, he noticed all
along the route small detpchments OF eng-
neers encamped in the open air at short in.
tervals from each other. Cossacks, mounted
or their small horses, galloped aboutin every
direction. The party were brought to the sta
ton by one of the imperial carriages, which
started Off at full speed, and, after crossing
a bridge, strongly guarded, arrived at
huge gateway, of which the writer and his
companions had 10 show their papers.
Thence they were conducted to wing of
the palace, where the same ceremonial was
gone through, after which they were taken
through perfect labyrinth of passages and
staircases to rooms reserved for them. The
writer was asked if he would have luncheon
or tea, and was then left TO himself until
the hour appointed for his audience. AT
noon Gen. Baungarten came TO fetch him.
On his Way 10 the central building he
saw the steps crowded with sentries, who in
turn presented arms with such din that he
shrewdly suspected that the noise was In
tended to warn their comrades further off
Of the arrival Of q stranger. Next large
hall, in which 100 soldiers Of the Guard
were on duty, was travarseG. At the fur
ther end the visitor had again to exhibit his
papers, and after ascending q magnificent
staircase and crossing hall in which a gi-
gantic Moor in q superb costume, and two
huge Tcherkesses armed to the teeth with
dirks and pistols were stationed, he was in
troduced by man servant into small but
elegant drawing room, whence he passed,
under the conduct of one of the gentlemen
on service, into the Empress's reception
room. After half an hours conversation, in
tho course Of which her Majesty remarked
that there were some very impious men in
Russia, the writer withdrew, but ere he took
leave of Gen. Baumgarten the latter, refer
ring to the trankness with which he had
spoken, told him that no Russian would
have dared to give advice TO the Czarina,
iokingly adding, "Take care You may
be sent to Siberia" What can be more
characteristic than this rGpproohenent OF the
aide-de.camp's grim jest about Siberia and
the precautions taken by the sovereign to
avert all danger from himself and his fam.
lily y?-Loadon Telegraph